Combined shelf and shield for radiators.



D FOR RADIATORS. APR. 10, 1915.

APPLICATION FILED Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

CHARLES VAN srasjnn m iiE'Ri'rAN is. K. sCnwnRnrMAnN, or ST. LOUIS, MIsso I, AssI noRs 'ro HILILQYIANUEAGTUBING COMPANY, OF ST. onrs, MIssOURI, A CORPORATION or MIssOURI.

COMBINED SHELF Ann SHIELID 'r-oR RADIAToRs'.

lemme.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES VAX DYKE HILL and HERMAN H. K. SoHwnnnTManN, citizens of the United States, residing at'the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Shelves and Shields for Radiators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. I

()ur invention relates to a combined shelf and shield for radiators, the principal objcct of our invention being to provide a comparatively inexpensive fixture which can be easily and quickly applied to or removed from an ordinary hot water or steam radiator, and which fixture when properly applied for use, forms a substantially rigid shelf of considerable area on top of the radiator and the shield portion of which fixture extends ClOWilWfllCl from said shelf to the rear of the body of the radiator for the purpose of deflecting the heated air which rises from the radiator, away from the wall which is adjacent to said radiator, thereby preventing discoloration of the wall by reason of the ascending currents of heated air and the dust carried thereby.

A. further object of our invention is to provide a combined radiator shelf and shield which is sectional in construction,thereby enabling the device to be manufactured with a number of interchangeable or standard parts, and consequently permitting said standard parts to be applied to radiators of various forms and sizes.

Further objects of our invention are, to provide a combined shelf and shield for radiators which, when applied for use, pre sents a neat and finished. appearance; to

combine with a shield a strong substantialshelf of material which will not be affected by heat from the radiator; to provide a shield and supporting frame which are adapted to receive interchangeable shelves,

thereby making it possible to utilize shelves of various sizes on shields and supports of standard sizes; to provide a shield which, in addition to' covering the entirerear por Serial No. 20,467.

tion of the radiator, extends partially around the ends thereof, thereby insuring the deflection of ascending currents of heated air outwardly away from the wall adjacent to which the radiator is positioned, and to provide a fixture which is of the knockdown type in order that the various parts can be taken apart and nested or packed into a comparatively small space for storage or shipment. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a radiator which is equipped with a combined shelf and shield of our improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a radiator with the framework of our improved fixture applied thereto and with the main portion of the shield in horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken approximately on the line 38 of Fig 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line 4l of Fig. 1. V 7

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The shelf supporting framework of our improved fixture comprises a rail 10 which, when applied to the radiator, extends lengthwise over the tops of the radiator sections, and detachably applied to the end portions of this rail, preferably by means of bolts 11 are transversely disposed rails 12, the end portions of which are bent upwardly to form comparatively short legs 13;

The rails 10 and 12 are preferably formed of channel iron or the like.

Sorewseated in the central portion of rail 10 is a rod 14, the forward end of which is bent upward as designated by 15, and this upwardly projecting forward end is adapted to engage in a. recess 16 which is formed in the underside of a shelf 17. This shelf, which may be of any suitable material, preferably stone such as marble, is substantially rectangular in form and whenapplied for use, rests directly upon the upper ends Specification of Letters Patent. P t t p 1 1 I Application filed April 10, 1915.

of the legs 13 and upon the longitudinally disposed rail 10, and said shelf being held on its supporting framework by the engagement of the upturned end 15 of rod 1% in the recess 16.

The end portions 18 of the shield forming a part of our improved fixture are each formed of a single piece of material, such as sheet metal, the same being bent double to form a vertically disposed body portion which occupies a position immediately to the rear of the radiator and the outer end of this end member is bent forwardly as designated by 19 so as to partially inclose or cover the adjacent end of the radiator.

The inner edges 20 of the material forming the end portions 18 are spaced apart so as to form vertically disposed grooves or guideways which receive the side edges of the main or central body portion 21 of the shield. This main portion is preferably constructed of sheet metal and its upper edge is bent double to form a reinforcing rib or bead 22, the same being substantially L-shape in cross section and adapted to engage the lower rear corner of shelf 17.

It will be understood that the end members 18 of the shield and the central member 21 are of sufficient length to extend from c plane slightly above the top of the radiate to a point close to the floor or the base upon which the radiator is positioned.

Positioned against the inner faces of th end portions 18 of the shield and at points" adjacent to the ends thereof are short horizontally disposed spacing members 23, the same being preferably formed of channel iron, and formed integral therewith or fixed thereto are outwar ly projecting prongs or fingers 2a which occupy corresponding ap ertures, the same being punched through the material forming the end members 18.

In order to rigidly fix the end portions 18 of the shield to the radiator, we utilize bolts 25, the same being provided with T-heads 26 which latter bear against the inner faces of the rear legs of an adjacent pair of the radiator sections, and the threaded outer ends of said bolts pass through corresponding apertures formed in the end members 18, and said threaded ends receive winged nuts 2'7. These bolts are preferably arranged so that they pass through the upper portions of the end members 18 and when the winged nuts 27 are tightened, the end members are rigidly anchored to the end portions of said radiator.

The rear legs 13 of the transverse rails 12 bear directly against the upper inner faces of the end members 18 and-passing through these parts are screws or bolts 28, the outer ends of which engage the lower ends of angle brackets 29, the same being provided with upwardly projecting lips 30 which normally engage against the rear edge of shelf 17-.

This construction provides means for rigidly fixing the shelf supporting frame to the end members of the shield, and likewise provides combined stops and brackets for engaging the rear edge of the shelf.

In applying our improved fixture to a radiator the side members 18 are first positioned behind the end sections of the radiator and rigidly connected thereto by means of the bolts 25 and nuts 27. The central member 21 of the shield is now moved downward with its side edges sliding between the spaced edges 20 of the members 18. When this center section has been moved home or to its lowermost position, the horizontal leg of the L-shaped reinforcing member 22 occupies the same horizontal plane with the upper edges of members 18 and with the tops of the legs 13, and thus when the shelf 17 is positioned upon said legs a substantially air and dust proof joint is formed between the rear portion of said shelf and the contacting edges of the parts 18 and 21.

It will be understood that apertures for the bolts 25 are formed through both end portions of the end members 18, and thus said members can be reversed in position or turned upside down, and thus be interchangeably used at the ends of the radiator. he aperture 15 in the shelf 17 is always located at the same relative point, which point is at the longitudinal center of the shelf and a specified distance, for instance,

two, three or four inches from the front edge of said shelf, and thus said shelves can be interchanged and a comparatively long or wide shelf substituted for one that is comparatively short or narrow.

A fixture of our improved construction is comparatively simple, can be readily applied to or removed from a radiator, presents a neat and finished appearance, deflects ascending currents of heated air outwardly from the radiator, thereby preventing the wall and hangings immediately above and to the rear of the radiator from becoming discolored by the dust and like matter which ordinarily rises with heated air from a radiator.

The shelf forming a part of the fixture provides a firm and substantial support for all articles of household, store and office use, which are ordinarily placed on stands, tables, counters, desks and the like.

Ordinarily, in the warmer months of the year radiators are entirely useless inasmuch as they do nothing more than take up floor space, but by combining a fixture of our improved construction with a radiator, the same serves a useful purpose during the time it is not in use as a heater by reason of the fact that it forms a strong and substantial base for the shelf.

When packed for storage or transportation, the various partsentering into the con struction of our improved fixture can be readily nested and packed in a comparatively small space.

It will be understood that the end members 18 of the shield can be made in lengths to suit radiators of standard heights, and thus a pair of said end members can be utilized on a radiator of any length or containing any number of sections, it only being necessary to vary the width of the center shield section 21. Likewise, the transverse bars 12 can be made in standard sizes. and utilized in connection with rails 10 which are cut in lengths to suit the various sizes of radiators. By thus standardizing a number of the parts of the structure, the cost of manufacture and installation can be minimized.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of our improved shelf and shield can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

lVe claim:

1. A fixture of-the class described comprising a pair of vertically disposed shield members which are adapted to be applied to the rear corners of a radiator, a central shield member cooperating with said end members, a framework detachably connected to the end shield members and positioned on top of the radiator, and a shelf removably positioned on said framework.

2. A fixture of the class described com: prising a pair of vertically disposed shield members which are adapted to be applied to the rear corners of a radiator, a central shield memher cooperating with said end members, a framework detachably connected to the end shield members and positioned on top of the radiator, and a shelf removablv positioned on said framework, the rear portion of which shelf overlies the upper edges of the shield members.

3. A fixture of the class described com prising a pair of upright shield members which are adapted to be applied to the rear corners of a radiator, portions of which shield members are extended forwardly to partially inclose the ends of the radiator to which the fixture is applied, a central shield member cooperating with the pair of shield members to cover the back of the radiator, a framework detachably applied to the pair of shield members and overlying the radiator to which the fixture is applied, and a shelf removably positioned on said framework.

4. In a fixture of the class described, a-

sectional shield adapted to be applied to a are extended forward so as to partially in close the ends of the radiator to which the fixture is applied, a horizontally disposed frame detachably applied to the upper end lie the radiator to which the fixture is applied, a shelf removably positioned on said framework, and means on said framework for preventing the horizontal displacement of the shelf.

6. The combination with a radiator, of upright shield members detachably applied to the rear corner of said radiator, a central shield member detachably connected to said upright members, an L-shaped reinforcingmember on the upper end of said central' shield member, a framework positioned on top of the radiator, and a shelf removably positioned on said framework, the rear edge of which shelf bears upon the L-shaped reinforcement of the central shield member.

7. The combination with a radiator, of a sectional shield detachablyapplied to said radiator and positioned to the rear thereof, spacing means interposed between the radiator and the sectional shield, a frame detachably secured to the upper portion of the shield member and positioned on top of the radiator, and a shelf I'GHIOX'HblY positioned on said frame. 7

S. The con'ibination with a radiator, of a sectional shield detachably applied to said radiator and positioned to the rear thereof, spacin means interposed between the radiator and the sectional shield, a frame detachably secured to the upper portion of the shield member and positioned on top of the radiator, and a shelf removably positioned on said frame, the rear edge of which shelf overlies the upper edge of the sectional shield.

9. The combination with a radiator, of a sectional shield detachably applied to said radiator and positioned to the rear thereof, spacing means interposed between the radiator and the sectional shield, a frame de' tachably secured to the upper portion of the shield member and positioned on top of the radiator, a shelf removably positioned on said frame, the rear edge of which shelf overlies the upper edge of the sectional shield, and means on said frame for holding the shelf against horizontal movement.

.10. In a fixture of the class described, a

shield comprising a pair of upright members which are adapted to be positioned adjacent to the rear corners of a radiator, the inner edges of which upright members are provided with grooves, and a central shield member, the side edges of which are detachably positioned in the grooves in said corner members.

11. In a fixture of the class described, a shield comprising a pair of upright members adapted to be positioned adjacent to the rear corners of a radiator, portions of which upright members project forwardly so as to partially inclose the ends of the radiator to which they are applied, the inner edges of which members are provided with grooves, and a central shield member, the side edges of which engage the inner edges of said grooves.

12. In a fixture of the class described, a shield comprising a pair of members which are adapted to be positioned adjacent to the rear corners of a radiator, and a central shield member, the side edges of which have sliding engagement with the inner edges of the pair of members.

13. In a fixture of the class described, a shield comprising a pair of members which are adapted to be positioned adjacent to the rear corners of a radiator, a central shield member, the side edges of which have sliding engagement with the inner edges of the pair of members, and a shelf positioned above the radiator, the rear portion of which shelf bears upon the shield members.

1 1. In a fixture of the class described, a pair of vertically disposed shield members, which are adapted to be applied to the rear corners of a radiator, a central shield member cooperating with said end members, said central shield member being provided adjacent to its upper end with a vertical flange and a horizontal flange to form a substantially L-shaped seat, and a shelf removably positioned on top of the radiator, the rear portion of which shelf rests in the L-shaped seat at the upper end of said central shield member.

15. In a fixture of the class described, a shield comprising a pair of upright members which are adapted to be positioned adjacent to the rear corners of a radiator, a. central shield member, the side edges of which are detachably connected to the inner edges of the upright members, a skeleton framework detachably connected to the upper portions of the upright members, which framework is adapted to overlie the radiator to which the device is applied, and a shelf removably positioned on said framework.

16. In a fixture of the class described, a shield comprising a pair of interchangeable end members, means whereby the same are attached to a radiator, a central shield member associated with said end members, a skeleton framework detachably connected to the upper portions of said end members, and a shelf supported by said framework find the upper portions of the shield memers.

17. In a fixture of the class described, a shield comprising a pair of interchangeable end members, means whereby the same are attached to a radiator, a central shield member associated with said end members, a skeleton framework detachably connected to the upper portions of said end members, a shelf supported by said framework and the upper portions of the shield members, and means on the skeleton frame for engaging the shelf to hold the same against lateral displacement.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this 3d day of April, 1915.

CHARLES VAN DYKE HILL. HERMAN H. K. SOHWERDTMANN. Witnesses:

M. P. SMITH, W. A. HANDEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

